The tussle between the Police and the Land Transport Authority (L.T.A.) over the enforcement of traffic infringements and the collection of fines is an interesting one.
Purely from an outside perspective, it appears to be a show of who has the biggest muscles and how far one can flex them.

Times have changed and so have people. There is absolutely no doubt about that regardless of whether we are talking about Samoans or any other ethnic group.
Here on these shores, while we’d like to think that Samoans are civilised people and that our actions will always be dictated by fa’aaloalo, ava fatafata and alofa, we must accept it’s not all that way anymore. For some people.

All eyes are on Papua New Guinea this weekend as it hosts what is arguably one of the biggest meetings a Pacific nation would have to accommodate in recent memory, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (A.P.E.C.) Summit.

Google “apec papua new guinea” and you will get over 3 million entries in seconds, confirming how the 2018 APEC Leaders Summit now underway in Port Moresby has put the Pacific Islands’ largest nation in the global spotlight.
The leaders of the grouping’s 21 member economies are making their way to Port Moresby for the November 17-18 international conference.

This much we know. The attack on Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi in Brisbane on Wednesday night was unacceptable (see front page story).
It was a cowardly act and regardless of what reasons or motives that might have triggered it, whoever is responsible should be ashamed.

This much we know. Questions surrounding the performance of one of the Government’s grand inventions called Samoa Airways are not new. They have been around since the plan was announced to reinvent the airline’s international operations under the Samoa Airways brand and they will continue to surface until the Government comes clean about its performance.

The issue of cryptocurrency is back on the agenda this week.
It follows a public presentation at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.), where an independent cryptocurrency entrepreneur from Zambia, Mapanza Nkwilimba, talked up the scheme as the way of the future. From that presentation, a story titled “Entrepreneur defends bitcoins, cryptocurrency” was published on yesterday’s front page.

A year ago today, a new era in the modern history of aviation in Samoa started.
It began when Samoa Airways new aircraft, flown all the way from Europe, touched down at Faleolo International Airport to a thunderous applause from guests invited to witness the event.

Apia played host to another cruise ship and its passengers of tourists yesterday morning — the second vessel to visit our shores in five days.
The word at Matautu wharf yesterday is that another cruise ship is due in Apia today, which if true would make it vessel # 3 in six days. Apia residents would probably be unfazed with the increasing regularity of visiting cruise ships, but ask a tourism expert and they would probably make reference to “cruise tourism”.

Across page 2 of the Samoa Observer yesterday, the story titled “Unprofessional” nurses irritate P.M. Tuilaepa” was published.
Just down below the headline, the Prime Minister is being quoted from his weekly media programme, slamming the attitude of certain nurses whom he was clearly unhappy with.

Let’s face it. Steve Jackson’s enthusiasm for his new role as the Head Coach of the Manu Samoa and his team’s chances of winning as they begin their end of year Northern Hemisphere tour is commendable.
He needs to. When a team’s fortunes have hit rock bottom, as the Manu Samoa has sitting 16th on the world rankings, you need some positivity.

It’s easy enough to understand. The President of the United States Donald Trump might be a little flustered given the results of the midterm elections, where the people of America have spoken, and given a sobering assessment of his tenure thus far.

The cruise ship Emerald Princess Hamilton docked at the Matautu wharf in Apia yesterday, with hundreds of tourists disembarking to enjoy the beauty of Samoa and bring much needed tourism revenue to Samoa.
Not far from the wharf, a solemn memorial service led by Head of State His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvii II and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi was underway at Vaimoso.

Today marks 100 years since the arrival from New Zealand of the cargo ship, Talune, whose passengers were suffering from the highly infectious disease, pneumonic influenza. According to reports, around 8500 people had died from the disease then, and for that reason Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has declared today, a public holiday.

There is a famous Chinese proverb that has been doing the rounds over the years amongst those who work in the development cooperation sector. “You give a poor man a fish and you feed him for a day. You teach him to fish and you give him an occupation that will feed him for a lifetime.”

And so the saga involving the Chief Executive Officer of Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Afamasaga Su’a Pou Onesemo, has taken another turn.
Since the allegations of corruption leveled against the C.E.O. by a former Member of Parliament of the Government of India, Sh.P.K. Bansal, surfaced at the beginning of the year, this matter has taken several interesting twists leading up to the newest development.

This is an old story that would just not go away. First published in the Samoa Observer on 8 August 2016, under the headline So sad a story it could make a tyrant break down and cry, it is that kind of story you can neither belittle nor ignore.

It has been a busy week for everyone and most of our international visitors, who came to our shores as delegates at the recent SAMOA Pathway Inter-Regional Conference, are perhaps on their way home to the 50-plus nations that they represent.

And so the Government has increased the cost of fuel once again.
The increase announced by the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, this week is the latest in a year where fuel prices have continued to rise.
You wonder if they will decrease ever again. Probably not before Christmas.

This is an interesting story.
Remember the man of God from Germany who said his name was Dr. Karl-Heinz Kuhlmann?
Well, if you’ve gone hazy in the head all of a sudden for whatever reason, please let me rattle your memory.

Attempts by two unidentified men, who tried to attack Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi in Brisbane, Australia on Wednesday night has shocked the nation and triggered condemnation from various fronts. Our reporter Yolanda Lavata’i speaks to the public to get their views on the issue.

I want to share a reflection on suicide by quoting from a speech I made in 2002 because it is relevant and topical. Rituals also express meaning, nuance and metaphor. During (former) Prime Minister’s Helen Clark’s wreathe presentation at Tamasese’s grave, 4 June 2002, Lufi Falefa and Salani could have chanted the funeral chants, the birth chants, the war chants, the victory chants.

P.M. on Church leaders
It seems Prime Minister Tuilaepa can’t leave members of clergy alone.
During a radio programme last week, he had plenty to say about Church Ministers. For instance, he reminded them that Church Ministers were only taught on spiritual matters, not on Economics.

The spears flew towards the youth on the hill, whistling as they cut through the air. Grinning, Queen Medb’s general drew his sword, eager to take back to his Queen the head of this warrior whom they called the Hound of Ulster. He had no doubt his spears would find their mark.